Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-01
RULERS OF RAIL RATES
ruENF'W COMMISSION FRS TAKE
THE OATH OF OFFICE.

r,dpe Cooley Made Chairman by
Tnantmous Vote--Object of the Demo
.ratte Members in Honoring Him
Wtrn the PositiOn-The First Cues
,inps to be Considered,
WASHINGTON, March St.-About il
Vclock this morning Messrs. Cooley,
vorrison. Schoonmaker and Walker, four
\,f the five members of the Interstate
eommerce Commission, called at the
White House and paid their respects
,o the President. Commissioner Bragg
I'D not arrive in the city in time
IN % with them, but called at the White
uouse shortly afterwsrd and then
ioined his associates at Wizards hotel,
where an informal gathering took place
n enable the members to become better
scnuAinted with one another. At3 O'Clock
the commissioners met by agreement at
The Interior Department, where their
commissions were handed TO them and
me prescribed oath OF office administered.
COOLEY CHAIRMAN.
On motion OF MIR. Morrison Judge Coo
ley was selected as chairman of the
commission. This action was unanimous
and was taken without discussion, the
members having all cOlDe to the conclu-
SION that JUDGE Cooley was the best fitted
fur the position. The commission then
tvoceeded TO the temporary quarters Sc
4cted for them on f street, just below the
lbb,tt House, and after an inspection
a. Inc rooms parted with the understand
nY tha anotner meeting should be held
l7 morrow tor consultation. No candi-
dates !or The secretaryship OF the commits
.lon we're proposed, ana that matter is
sill in abeYance.
HOW IT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT.
Prior to tne selection of Juge Cooley
As chairman of the commission, Messrs.
Morrison, Bragg and Schoonmaker, the
trree Democratic members, held a con-
ference at which it was decided that in
view OF Judge Cooley's long experience
aud eninence as judge, and In order to
demonstrate to the country that it was
iHtlr object to promote harmony and
unanImity in The board, Mr.. Morrison
should propose and Mr. Bragg second
judge Co0ley's nomination as chairman.
THE FIRST BUSINESS.
The first business that Will come before
lhe board after its organization will be
the fixing OF the time and place for the
hearing Of questions to be submitted by
NJ. ii. Smitu, Vice President OF the I4ous-
vile and Nashville railroad, and Virgil
Powers. General Commissioners OF Pool
Rates for the southern Railway and
steamship Association. These questions
relate to the long and short haul proyis-
ion of the interstate commerce acI, as 1t
applies tOraiiroads east OF the Mississippi
river, south of tue OniO, and west OF the
Potomac.
PASSES IN THE WEST.
CHICAGO, March 3I.-rhe general man.
ayers OF Western railways were in ses.
sion here to-day trying to arrange some
uniform system in regard to newspaper
passes, both Stale and Interstate. Some
ol the lines have Instituted mileage books
and contracts while others stick to the
old style of passes, believing that the
latter are given tor services rendered and
do not conflict with the law. No agree
ment was arrived at, and each road will
act in the matter according to its own
Judgment.
DEAD-HEADS BY THE DOZENS.
PITrsBURG, PA, March 31.-Through
4 trains over The Pennsylvania railroad
4 Wd Pennsylvania Company's lines to.
!ay were crowded with free passer gers.
All passes expire ut - o'clock tonight
On one OF the trains from Chicago there
We're twenty-five ladies who carried
PASSES, They were issued on twenty five
qlf rent accounts. The ladies resided in
Philadelphia and New York principally,
ana were getting homo while they coulL
roe Tor nothing. An old conductor gave
as lls opinion that nine-tenths of the
teople travelling to-day over the Pennsyl-
yanla lines had passes. The officials
lGripg the past month have issuedlpasses
10 almost every person who annliad ra
garulesS OF former regulations. They
seem 10 nave taken compassion upon the
ciamorons public, and Issued passes with
rechIessneso, indicating that they will
nehceIorth have no chance to use their
authority in favoring friends.